Chapter 148

“She’s even mated?”

“Yes, she is and to the Lycan King no less”

“And you had no other pups?”

“No, it is just her, make no mistake though, Adriel and I did try but Mali placed a spell on him that casted onto me as well, we were unable to breed together and the healers were always unable to find the reason why even though we are both healthy, it was because of Mali and her spell, she would make him go to her and mate and recast the spell so he would not remember mating with her, she is now with pup for him”

“But how could Mali think she has any claim or right to the throne? Has she lost her senses?!”

“Only Mali knows the answer to that question father”

“Where is she?”

“In the dungeon”

“And her mate?!”

“I just sent him to her in the dungeon to mate and mark her so his wolf would not go feral”

“WHAT?!”

“He did nothing wrong father, he had no idea she was his true mate, he spent all these years loving and thinking he was bonded to me, so naturally now that the false bond has been broken all the years have caught up to him and he started going feral so naturally that was the best thing to do”

“Well that seems like the wisest choice to make then yes, but what about you? How are you okay if his Lycan was about to go feral?”

“Mmm I’m not sure, perhaps it’s because I had been with my true mate before”

“I suppose so”

“You truly, truly have no recollection of anything that happened all these years?”

“My last memory is of you leaving the Kingdom to look for your mate, us closing the portal after your departure then going to a gathering then waking up here”

“That is the last thing I remember too” my mom says “I would like to see Mali, would that be okay?”

I rise from the bench and open the door “Winter Wards are my parents cleared and fit enough to leave or do you have to further examine them?”

“No, they are fine and okay to go but we would love to further assess Adriel, we need to ensure he is not a danger to others your majesty”

I nod then open my mind link, reaching out to the guards ‘have they finished?’ ‘yes, your majesty, I have actually been trying to reach you for some time now, Adriel is asking to be let out of the cell, may we do so?’

‘I will come and get him’ ‘yes your majesty’

“ I will go and fetch him and send him back to you my lords”

“Thank you, we shall wait here then your majesty, do take care yourselves as well your highnesses”

“We will, you have our thanks for the hospitality and the healing Winter Wards”

“It is our duty and you are welcome”

I open a portal into the cell and step though, Adriel rushes to me “Adriel, what is the matter?”

“I have done as you suggested my Empress and I think I am better now but I feel so dirty now, why?”

“Go through the portals to the Winter Wards, they will help you and when they think you’re safe and okay, they will send you back to the palace” he nods and walks through the portal and I close it, my parents are standing on either side of me glaring at Mali who has shrunk back and looks so dejected.

She doesn’t even look up to acknowledge us “Mali” my father calls out and she looks up, a bit of the light returns to her eyes “Uncle! You're okay! You have no idea how worried I was for you and Aunty!”

“You have the audacity to talk about being worried or concerned for us after what you did to us Mali, have you no conscience?!”

“She droops once again”

“I just wanted to be more than I am Uncle, what’s so wrong about that?!”

“You caused so much pain Mali, so much unnecessary pain, all for yourself, you have no claim, none whatsoever to the throne, even if you ever sat on the throne, it would have rejected you because you do not belong, and you know what would have happened, it would have drained your life and killed you Mali, that is what your selfishness would have caused you, your life!”

“I didn’t know that”

“Of course you didn’t, why would you need to? Only those with blood of gold can sit upon the throne of old is that not the words passed down?”

“It is but I didn’t think it was meant in the literal terms Uncle”

“Well now you know, you did these things, went against our nature and had dealings with the dark arts, caused my daughter to lose on watching her pup grow up and caused us to turn on each other, even included your own mate in your schemes, thank goodness you are with pup or I would have ended your life right here Mali!”

"Just strike you down right there where you stand and get the problem over with!"